Hammers fans walking to Cardiff!

For the majority of supporters planning their journey to the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday, it's a choice of coach, car, train or…if they're lucky…plane.

However, for one group of dedicated Hammers fans heading to Cardiff, the mode of transport isn't so comfortable…they are walking to the Welsh capital - from Nottingham!

Richard Bridge, Stuart Kinton, Rob Wells and his son Duncan, set off last Saturday from the midlands and are trekking no less than 160 miles, through Burton-on-Trent, Sutton Coldfield, Droitwich, Ledbury, Monmouth and Newport, scheduled to arrive in Cardiff on Friday, just 24 hours before we kick-off against Liverpool.

Explaining the story behind their idea, Richard says: "After the Play-Off Final last year, as we walked away, I said to Rob that we wouldn't be coming back to Cardiff next year as we would be going to Wembley for the FA Cup Final, admittedly slightly tongue in cheek.

"Rob replied that if that was to happen, he would be happy to walk. So we agreed there and then that we would walk if we got to the FA Cup Final. I think if we are honest, at that stage we thought the likelihood of doing it was slim to nil!"

The lads are carrying out their brave and admirable feat in order to raise funds for Cancer Research. Fellow Hammers fans can make donations by visiting a dedicated website at: http://www.justgiving.com/walktocardiff or by posting cheques made payable to The Phil Whittaker Fund, to c/o Stuart Kinton, 15 Fleming Close, Watnall, Nottingham NG16 1JY.